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Osaretin Ighile

Studio Building

Studio Interior

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Studio Location

Artwork

Oba Ovonramwen 1888-1914 (84 in x 66 in x 66 in)

The Deities [60 in x 72 in x 24 in]

Obama (rear view) [36 in x 60 in x 24 in]

Pigeons [30 in x 60 in x 24 in ea.]

Mayor's Head [34 in x15 in x 15 in]

Osaretin

Ighile

Artist's Statement

My art is deeply, socially conscious, drawing from the artistic heritage of my people, the Benins in Nigeria, my experiences as a black man and African immigrant in New York and my profound desire to create. After having lived in Brooklyn for many years, I've come to recognize we all have common threads.

The direction of my sculpture over the years has been re-purposed materials as a way of giving voice to my personal convictions. In working with rope in particular, I noticed the polarizing nature of rope as a noose and its historical context. Rope remains an ugly symbol of the American past and yet it is highly accessible. I find it paradoxical that that something so simple and ordinary can have such power. These materials have symbolic presence that engage the viewer, as do the many other materials that I use in my creations.

Bio/Resume

Nigerian-born artist

Sculptor, painter and video artist

Created large-scale bust of Mayor Michael Bloomberg made of parking tickets

Ran for New York City Council in Brooklyn District 35, collecting over 3,000 signatures as part of performance piece

Formally trained in Fine Art, BFA and MFA

Current one man show at Skoto Gallery in Chelsea until mid-may 2012

Exhibited at t the World Bank in Washington, DC and the Dakar Biennial in Dakar, Senegal